For 25 years the shelter has offered food, blankets and shelter for up to 70 people who are homeless or on low incomes from December 24 to 28.

But this year has seen a big drop in the amount of food being offered combined with a chronic lack of people coming forward to offer help, leaving the cupboards and freezers bare.

Chairman Patsy Moloney believes the shortages could have a devastating effect and is pleading with people to donate or volunteer.

He said: “We are facing a real crisis this time and are in danger of not being able to help people who have come to rely on what we do at Christmas. “We usually have so much at this time of year and are in a good place but the last two collections we have done have been really slack.

“We have had mountains of bedding and we have no more room for it but we only have enough food for one day.

“This happened three or four years ago and people came forward at the last minute after we sent out an appeal.”

Patsy believes that the lack of donations is a result of similar appeals from other charities as times have become increasingly tough.

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He said: “There are so many people looking for sponsorship and, with the disaster in the Philippines, people’s pockets aren’t limitless.

“This time last year I had all the lunch fillings there and the freezers were full.

“I really hope the public will come forward to help or there is a chance that people will go hungry at Christmas.”

The Bishop of Swindon, Dr Lee Rayfield, said: “Most years there is a little bit of anxiety when the food hasn’t arrived by a couple of weeks before Christmas. “But this year with only a week to go it’s quite serious. “The people of Swindon have stepped up to help fantastically in the past and I am sure that when they hear about this they will come to the aid of Christmas Care and help some of the most vulnerable people in Swindon to have a good Christmas.”

From 11am on Christmas Eve to 11am on December 28 people who are homeless, living in sheltered accommodation or on low incomes can turn up, shower, help themselves to bedding and clothes and enjoy as much food as they like while they are at the shelter.

They also have an opportunity for a chiropodist to look at their feet and to get a haircut.

Patsy said: “It’s like a little hotel. “At the end of the week any clothing left over after everyone has taken what they want goes to countries that need it, so nothing is wasted. “Leftover food is taken down to the Salvation Army who use it in their soup kitchen.”

The Christmas Care shelter in Swindon cannot accept any more bedding, but it is desperate for donations of food for sandwich fillings as well as blocks of cheese, bags of potatoes, carrots, parsnips and other vegetables, bacon, eggs, and sausages.

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Donations can only be received on the following occasions at the Queen’s Drive Methodist Church:

December 19, 2pm - 3pm

December 20, noon - 2pm

December 21, noon - 3pm

December 22, 2pm - 3pm

December 23, 9am - 2pm

December 24, open all day

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Comments (12)

The exact same shelter made a similar appeal last year in the Swindon Advertiser. I responded by donating a large amount of food, however I did find the shelter to be poorly organised and not very helpful.

The exact same shelter made a similar appeal last year in the Swindon Advertiser. I responded by donating a large amount of food, however I did find the shelter to be poorly organised and not very helpful.rednwhitedynamite

The exact same shelter made a similar appeal last year in the Swindon Advertiser. I responded by donating a large amount of food, however I did find the shelter to be poorly organised and not very helpful.

Score: -3

Ringеr says...12:55pm Thu 19 Dec 13

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.Ringеr

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

Score: -26

house on the hill says...1:11pm Thu 19 Dec 13

Didnt we have this story a few days ago like so many recently? Are the Adver in some sort of time warp?

Didnt we have this story a few days ago like so many recently? Are the Adver in some sort of time warp?house on the hill

Didnt we have this story a few days ago like so many recently? Are the Adver in some sort of time warp?

Score: -8

Davey Gravey says...3:01pm Thu 19 Dec 13

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

[quote][p][bold]Ringеr[/bold] wrote:
Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.[/p][/quote]An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer.
A false sweeping statement if ever there was one.
Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.Davey Gravey

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

Score: 16

house on the hill says...4:46pm Thu 19 Dec 13

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

I think you are right and also there are so many more "charities" nowadays you cant help them all even if you wanted to. It is sad that in this day and age they are still needed.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ringеr[/bold] wrote:
Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.[/p][/quote]An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer.
A false sweeping statement if ever there was one.
Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.[/p][/quote]I think you are right and also there are so many more "charities" nowadays you cant help them all even if you wanted to. It is sad that in this day and age they are still needed.house on the hill

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

I think you are right and also there are so many more "charities" nowadays you cant help them all even if you wanted to. It is sad that in this day and age they are still needed.

Score: 7

southside7 says...9:58pm Thu 19 Dec 13

I contacted Christmas Care by email to volunteer, reply was - rotas are full. Please can someone clarify.

I contacted Christmas Care by email to volunteer, reply was - rotas are full. Please can someone clarify.southside7

I contacted Christmas Care by email to volunteer, reply was - rotas are full. Please can someone clarify.

Score: 6

faatmaan says...10:22pm Thu 19 Dec 13

alas charity fatigue has set in, you can't turn round without people fund raising, an overcrowded market place chasing diminishing funds.

alas charity fatigue has set in, you can't turn round without people fund raising, an overcrowded market place chasing diminishing funds.faatmaan

alas charity fatigue has set in, you can't turn round without people fund raising, an overcrowded market place chasing diminishing funds.

Score: 1

REDROM says...10:36pm Thu 19 Dec 13

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

unreal.........

[quote][p][bold]Ringеr[/bold] wrote:
Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.[/p][/quote]unreal.........REDROM

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

unreal.........

Score: 1

Ringer says...7:35am Fri 20 Dec 13

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

That comment was not from me, it was by the same CRETIN who has been using my login name, a couple of times now. I've reported it to the Adver but, as ever, they've done nothing about it. Oh well.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ringеr[/bold] wrote:
Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.[/p][/quote]An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer.
A false sweeping statement if ever there was one.
Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.[/p][/quote]That comment was not from me, it was by the same CRETIN who has been using my login name, a couple of times now.
I've reported it to the Adver but, as ever, they've done nothing about it.
Oh well.Ringer

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

That comment was not from me, it was by the same CRETIN who has been using my login name, a couple of times now. I've reported it to the Adver but, as ever, they've done nothing about it. Oh well.

Score: 2

GalaxyMan says...1:24pm Fri 20 Dec 13

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

Only £1600? I'm probably £5000 down since being made redundant during Gordon Brown's recession.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Ringеr[/bold] wrote:
Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.[/p][/quote]An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer.
A false sweeping statement if ever there was one.
Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.[/p][/quote]Only £1600? I'm probably £5000 down since being made redundant during Gordon Brown's recession.GalaxyMan

Davey Gravey wrote…

Ringеr wrote…

Frankly I'm astonished as to why *anyone* would want to help homeless people or those on 'low income'. The more help they get the more they want, the previous Labour government proved this.

An utterly disgusting comment from you Ringer. A false sweeping statement if ever there was one. Maybe people are feeling the pinch and are not able to donate as much this year? Normal folk are £1600 a year down since the general election.

Only £1600? I'm probably £5000 down since being made redundant during Gordon Brown's recession.

Score: -3

not one to make assumptions says...8:53pm Sun 22 Dec 13

my goodness where did peoples empathy go, seems there is very little of it about these days, I am also shocked at the level of successful brainwashing our government and media has instilled in people, reading the comments of 'why would anyone help a homeless person or anything previous government related' are the exact statements the government and media has fed in and you spew out, one thing for sure they would be proud of there successful brainwashing.

my goodness where did peoples empathy go, seems there is very little of it about these days, I am also shocked at the level of successful brainwashing our government and media has instilled in people, reading the comments of 'why would anyone help a homeless person or anything previous government related' are the exact statements the government and media has fed in and you spew out, one thing for sure they would be proud of there successful brainwashing.not one to make assumptions

my goodness where did peoples empathy go, seems there is very little of it about these days, I am also shocked at the level of successful brainwashing our government and media has instilled in people, reading the comments of 'why would anyone help a homeless person or anything previous government related' are the exact statements the government and media has fed in and you spew out, one thing for sure they would be proud of there successful brainwashing.

Score: 1

blogonaut says...11:33pm Sun 22 Dec 13

I went by today to drop of some food for the appeal - I got a warm welcome from the organisers - it is great to see people doing so good work in the real spirit of Christmas - Well Done Swindon. Lots of people had been very generous in dropping off supplies of foodstuffs, but no doubt some more would be appreciated - please give something if you can

I went by today to drop of some food for the appeal - I got a warm welcome from the organisers - it is great to see people doing so good work in the real spirit of Christmas - Well Done Swindon. Lots of people had been very generous in dropping off supplies of foodstuffs, but no doubt some more would be appreciated - please give something if you canblogonaut

I went by today to drop of some food for the appeal - I got a warm welcome from the organisers - it is great to see people doing so good work in the real spirit of Christmas - Well Done Swindon. Lots of people had been very generous in dropping off supplies of foodstuffs, but no doubt some more would be appreciated - please give something if you can

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